Congratulations to one and all, for competing in a friendly spirit. Every starter completed the course, despite the dreich conditions. Joe Symonds showed his pedigree in winning in a time which beat the junior record by nearly three minutes, with Iain Donnan and Iain MacCorquodale also inside the old junior record. Sonia Armitage, the world Veterans’ Champion, came close to the lady vets’ record.

As athletes, we tend not to think too much about what goes on behind the scenes. But I can tell you that it is difficult to recruit good folk to travel to remote places and get a soaking, whilst athletes race by. Helpers were exceptionally thin on the ground this year and, with the junior trial needing extra work, the organisation was stretched near to breaking point. So we all owe a great debt to Dave Armitage, Brendan Toner and Christine Wilson who between them, organised the junior race and timed the senior race, at no notice at all. Shortly before the race started, I discovered that Christine had turned up to do some hill walking. She kindly agreed to help out and subsequently took part with Brendan, in a desperate race to beat the runners to the two finishes. No problem in the end – nearly a minute to spare!

It was this close call that lead me to speculate at the prizegiving, about my ability to sustain the race in future. This caused Simon Winton to undertake to transport any volunteer to the finish in his "baggage train" 4WD. Do you know of anyone who could be persuaded to help out here?? Maybe a hill walker who would like to descend by another one of Glas Taulaichean’s fine ridges, or even to go on to Carn an Righ and Bienn Lutharn to the north? Please give me a ring, if you know of any potential helper.

Thanks once again to Eileen Gibson for first aid back up and for another wonderful spread of home cooking, on which the runners performed their usual vanishing trick. Thanks also to Simon Winton, who, as usual, not only permitted the race, but also supported it enthusiastically. Simon had an operation recently on a nerve in his foot, so was unable to run. He hopes to be fit to take part again next year.

1. Four minutes before the start, an athlete was found without rainwear. He sprinted back to registration, found some gear and sprinted back, just in time to start and win the race. Moral: It pays to include speedwork in your warm-up routine.
2. Scott Fraser, the winner of the boys’ selection race, spent the previous day hauling course marking gear up the mountain. He slept rough the night before. But he ran with with impeccable pace judgement. He was well behind at the start, but caught and passed the leaders as they tired. Moral: To be a champion you need self-belief and an ability to keep control of your performance.
3. Jemma Toner, the youngest athlete and winner of the girls’ trial, always has a big smile on her face. Moral: It is not worth being a runner unless it makes life more fun.